Air Conditioning Evaporator Cleaner

[JefferiesFarnol]

Hello chaps,


I've finally got my A/C working (fingers crossed for a while, at least). I had a man come round to do it and there didn't seem to be an active leak and we couldn't work out how all the gas had gone just a few days after the garage re-charged it; but as we all know, garages are not infallible. In any case, it has dye in it now so if there is a leak, we'll be able to see it next time.

One thing I've got now is a musty smell only for a few seconds when the A/C starts so I want to clean the evaporator (which I suppose I should be doing anyway). It seems the foam kind is the best and the only readily available one I can find is by Liqui-Moly. I'd sooner spray it up through the drain hole than down through the vents, but I wonder if anyone can say which hole is the right one? I've done the plenum drain mod so if I leave my prodding stick poking through that one, will I see the evaporator hole next to it?

[stevestrat]

I use the aerosol type, referred to as an air con bomb! If I remember the procedure, start the car, air con on, set it to recirculate. Park the aerosol in the passenger footwell near the recirculating intake. Press the catch on the aerosol, latches open. The mist is drawn into and circulates right through the aircon system. Full instructions will be on whatever product you get.

[JefferiesFarnol]

Originally Posted by stevestrat

I use the aerosol type, referred to as an air con bomb! If I remember the procedure, start the car, air con on, set it to recirculate. Park the aerosol in the passenger footwell near the recirculating intake. Press the catch on the aerosol, latches open. The mist is drawn into and circulates right through the aircon system. Full instructions will be on whatever product you get.

Thanks, I did see that Autoglym do a good aerosol type, I just wondered if the foam kind would be better as it coats the whole evaporator and then drains away - there are lots of products to choose from! It's not a serious odour problem that I've got, so I think the aerosol would probably do the trick for me.

[stevestrat]

The aerosol will get rid of the musty smell. The previous owner of the 1.8T I used to have had a spaniel and even after a valeting the car had a damp dog smell. Tried various products but none were as effective as the air con bomb, presume the damp dog odour had permeated right through the ventilation system.

[daveo138]

I used this aerosol from Eurocarparts

https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/go4-a...50ml-552777691

Gets good reviews and only £2.99

[Arctic]

Originally Posted by JefferiesFarnol

Hello chaps,


I've finally got my A/C working (fingers crossed for a while, at least). I had a man come round to do it and there didn't seem to be an active leak and we couldn't work out how all the gas had gone just a few days after the garage re-charged it; but as we all know, garages are not infallible. In any case, it has dye in it now so if there is a leak, we'll be able to see it next time.

One thing I've got now is a musty smell only for a few seconds when the A/C starts so I want to clean the evaporator (which I suppose I should be doing anyway). It seems the foam kind is the best and the only readily available one I can find is by Liqui-Moly. I'd sooner spray it up through the drain hole than down through the vents, but I wonder if anyone can say which hole is the right one?

Hi Hector.
You will see two air con drain tubes such as these below.

1